Television Broadcast: Spot or Breaking News Reporting General News Reporting
Transcription
Television Broadcast: Spot or Breaking News Reporting General News Reporting
Television Broadcast: Spot or Breaking News Reporting First place Heather Catallo, Johnny N. Sartin, Jr., Marie Gould, WXYZ news team Kwame Kilpatrick Verdict Day Judges’ comments: A fast-breaking story, expertly and colorfully told through facts, graphics, records, and new technologies. General News Reporting First place Heather Catallo, Johnny N. Sartin, Jr., Randy Lundquist WXYZ-TV The Sheriff's Text Messages Judges’ comments: A very compelling story, told through articulate sources and well-researched. Investigative Reporting First place Ross Jones, Randy Lundquist, Johnny Sartin WXYZ-TV Go Green, Spend Green Judges’ comments: The winner in a tight race, all entries did a good job on unique subjects, showed smart work by the reporter Second place Heather Catallo, Ann Mullen, Tracy Wujack, Scott Anderson WXYZ-TV Moral Malpractice Third place Ross Jones, Randy Lundquist, Johnny Sartin, Ann Mullen WXYZ-TV The Youngest Pensioner Honorable Mention Ross Jones, Randy Lundquist, Ann Mullen, Ramon Rosario WXYZ-TV Guilty and Gone News Special/Documentary First place Geri Alumit Zeldes, Alyssa Firth MSU U.S. v. Narciso, Perez & the Press Judges’ comments: The documentary was well produced Second place WXYZ NEWS TEAM Kilpatrick Verdict Special Judges’ comments: Really important stories and the packages were well done. Best Videography First place David Kalman WXYZ-TV Apartment Ceiling Collapse Judges’ comments: Good job in getting to the best video first. Nice way to follow the collapse and to look quickly for a reaction. Best News Editing First place Randy Lundquist WXYZ-TV Judges’ comments: The graphics were very well executed and professional. Editing was well paced and the 3D animation was a great highlight. Radio Broadcast: Spot or Breaking News Reporting First place Quinn Klinefelter WDET-FM Detroit Files For Bankruptcy Judges’ comments: Story added good insight with nice cuts on what I'm sure was a tight deadline. Second place Quinn Klinefelter WDET-FM Detroit Qualifies For Bankruptcy Third place Dick Haefner, Ann Thomas WJR-AM Breaking The Glass Ceiling General News Reporting First place Quinn Klinefelter WDET-FM Detroit Can't Bury Its Homeless Judges’ comments: Tragic story. Introducing the subject with one man who died is especially powerful. Feature Reporting First place Dick Haefner WJR-AM Going To the Store Judges’ comments: Nice illustration of a local business and the challenges it's facing. Second place Jerome Vaughn WDET-FM Kennedy Assassination Anniversary Third place Dick Haefner WJR-AM The Wrath Of Grapes Investigative Reporting First place WDET News Food Series Judges’ comments: The reporting shows an extraordinary effort to cover every facet of "FOOD" for school age youth. Quality work through the entire series exploring food programs, success and failures....and best practices. Second place Dick Haefner WJR-AM Reinventing Detroit, Part 4 Judges’ comments: Interesting story, nice elements throughout. Newscast First place Pat Batcheller WDET-FM WDET News 12/03/13 Judges’ comments: Outstanding newscast---good balance, fast moving, informative, well done WDET. Second place Pat Batcheller WDET-FM WDET News 11/06/13 Third place Pat Batcheller WDET-FM WDET News 08/13/13 News Special/Documentary First place WDET News Election Night 2013 Judges’ comments: Thorough and professional job in covering election night. Well done. Second place Craig Fahle, Jerome Vaughn, Laura Weber-Davis, J. Carlisle Larsen WDET-FM Emergency Financial Manager Special Coverage Print, Class A: Writing and reporting Spot or Breaking News Reporting First place Detroit Free Press Staff Detroit emergency manager's meeting with creditors Judges’ comments: This was an extremely difficult category to judge -- four of the five entries could have tied for first place. I chose this one for first place because of the complexity of the material, which was presented in an excellent package on a quick turnaround. Second place Tim Higgins Bloomberg News GM Picks Mary Barra as First Female CEO Judges’ comments: I chose this entry for second place not only because of the extensive, wide-ranging analysis (also seen in three of the other entries), but also because this reporter was the first to break the news. Third place Robert Snell, Mike Wilkinson, Christine MacDonald The Detroit News Detroit Corruption Trial Judges’ comments: Almost impossible to choose between the two excellent entries about this event, both of which I could have chosen in a tie for first place. But there can be no ties, so I chose the Detroit News package by the narrowest of margins because it seemed to be a bit more engaging for readers. Honorable Mention Detroit Free Press Staff Kilpatrick corruption verdict Judges’ comments: Again, all four of these stories could have been tied for first place! General News Reporting First place John Carlisle, Romain Blanquart Detroit Free Press Detroit fire fighters feeling the heat Judges’ comments: A truly excellent story that pulls the reader in and tells not only the story of these firefighters but also the story of the struggles of the city itself. The vignettes of the individual fire calls show the reader the routines of these firefighters -- even the parts of their routines that seem extraordinary, unusual and even absurd (e.g., the frustration these firefighters feel when talking with colleagues from other departments in other cities). The last paragraph, which highlights the never-ending nature of their struggles, is not how I expected the story to end, but it is realistic albeit sad. All that being said, there is a hope and even lightheartedness in this story (such as the friendly competition between the two engine companies). Overall, this is a multifaceted story to which readers I'm sure can easily relate. Great job! Second place Marney Rich Keenan The Detroit News A family divided by murder Third place Curt Guyette Metro Times Fairground Zero Honorable Mention Ben Klayman, Bernie Woodall Reuters UAW stakes new ground in South to survive Feature Story First place Keith Naughton Bloomberg News Reckoning to Revival Judges’ comments: . A sweeping, well-written and well-sourced look at the rise, fall and rise of Chrysler and the auto industry and its ripple effect on the local economy. Told often through the eyes of those who went through the experience, the extensive series is a business story, a news story and a feature story of the highest order. Second place John Carlisle Detroit Free Press Utopia-seeking squatters struggle to create oasis Judges’ comments: A well-told story about squatters trying their brand of improvement in an abandoned neighborhood, meeting with misunderstanding and mistrust. Third place John Carlisle Detroit Free Press Teen from Shepherd helps save a life Judges’ comments: Tautly told and detailed, this story paints a chilling picture for the reader of night of terror. Well done. Honorable Mention John Carlisle Detroit Free Press Delray's diggers find scrap metal, pride and fellowship Judges’ comments: A great look at those making treasure out of trash, working hard to get ahead in an area that's fallen behind. The story is itself a treasure, a warm portrait of these men, their sense of family and of accomplishment. Best Personality Profile First place Niraj Warikoo Detroit Free Press From Flint to a Violent Death in war-torn Syria Judges’ comments: What an interesting topic. And such a challenging reporting job, given the circumstances of Mansfield's death. I'm sure many reporters in Detroit wish they'd written this piece. Nice detail throughout. Great sources, some of whom surely weren't eager to talk. Some of the father's quotes stuck with me long after I'd finished reading. Second place Joe Rexrode Detroit Free Press His father, and his rock Judges’ comments: Excellent reporting. The details and quotes make Gerald Jr. and Sr. come alive as characters. Loved the conclusion. And the anecdote describing the June 3 workout allows readers to understand the relationship between this father and son. That scene is a perfect example of how dialogue can have a greater impact than traditional quotes. Third place Brett Callwood Metro Times The Fright Stuff Judges’ comments: Nice description of Malerman's home. Great profile subject. Honorable Mention Shawn D. Lewis The Detroit News For Detroit teen, music soothes stress of life Investigative Reporting First place Christine MacDonald The Detroit News Detroit Property Taxes Judges’ comments: Excellent series. An enormous amount of data was analyzed, yet the series did not overwhelm the reader. The situation was presented clearly, with insightful information in the graphics. And, perhaps most important, the series resulted in government agencies changing policies to address the problem. All of the entries in this category were very good, but this one stood out as the best. Second place Chastity Pratt Dawsey Detroit Free Press $468M for what? Third place Paul Egan Detroit Free Press Super-heavy loads, busted-up roads Best Consumer/Watchdog First place Nathan Bomey, John Gallagher Detroit Free Press $1B in bonuses Judges’ comments: This is a particularly well-detailed and well-written article. I like the boxes the writers pulled out for more information. It's a smooth read and the writers made some terrific use of quotes. Nice choice to put the "bug up my ass" quote before the jump, and good accompanying graphics. I read this and understood it. Second place Keith Matheny Detroit Free Press Royal Oak blast marks 2nd time Consumers workers left after leak Judges’ comments: Nice job wrangling lots of interviews, quotes and information into a readable story that identifies a real public threat. Third place Curt Guyette Metro Times Petcoke series Judges’ comments: This series raises a public health and safety concern. It brings the issue to life through a compelling leading interview and delves into the story in depth. Nice job. Honorable Mention Matt Helms, Joe Guillen Detroit Free Press Consultants' contracts soar to more than $62M Judges’ comments: Solid story that documents clearly who is profiting from Detroit's bankruptcy. Best Explanatory Story First place Mark Stryker, Brian Todd Detroit Free Press DIA in Peril Judges’ comments: Interesting and visually appealing. Well done. Second place JC Reindl, Eric D. Lawrence Detroit Free Press Why Detroit's lights went out Third place John Gallagher, Nathan Bomey, Eric Millikin, Detroit Free Press Staff Detroit Free Press How Detroit Went Broke Honorable Mention Niraj Warikoo Detroit Free Press Syrian-Americans in Michigan aid native land during war Best Localization of a National Story First place Niraj Warikoo Detroit Free Press With 150,000 undocumented residents, Michigan has stake in U.S. debate Judges’ comments: Excellent story. You artfully tie in the policy-oriented news peg with a story that shows the consequences of those policies. Additionally, the personal stories are not the only way you localize this story, but you use many documentary sources and statistics to show the macroeconomic impact on Michigan. Great job. Second place Megan Krueger Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Re-evaluating School Security Measures General Column Writing First place Brian Dickerson Detroit Free Press Judges’ comments: Dickerson provides his readers insightful, knowledgeable analyses of what really goes on in state government. Although his precise commentaries are loaded with detail, the writing is never dry. He is such a gifted writer that the narratives flow smoothly from beginning to end. Dickerson is a master at fulfilling the high calling of journalists to be the public's watchdog. Second place Mitch Albom Detroit Free Press Third place Nancy Kaffer Detroit Free Press Honorable Mention Rochelle Riley Detroit Free Press Sports Columnist First place Shawn Windsor Detroit Free Press Judges’ comments: Shawn Windsor exhibits a mastery of diverse subject matter, from a community squabble over redevelopment of the old Tiger Stadium to the various forces roiling a college football program. His writing is both elegant and approachable, and he finds a way to draw you in from the very first sentence. Second place Mitch Albom Detroit Free Press Third place Drew Sharp Detroit Free Press Honorable Mention Jeff Seidel Detroit Free Press Sports Reporting First place Mick McCabe, Mark Snyder Detroit Free Press It was just head games, constant head games Judges’ comments: Really great piece about what happens when there is no system of checks and balances in any group. Second place Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press The Lion King Judges’ comments: I loved this piece. I liked hearing from the old players and the modern-day people connected to the team. Third place Shawn Windsor Detroit Free Press Miguel Cabrera: Getting better with age Judges’ comments: Nice profile of a great player with a lot of good background interviews and insights. Editorial Writing First place Detroit Free Press Editorial Board How Detroit came to betray its retirees Judges’ comments: A cogent explanation of how Detroit dug itself into the financial/pension pits. Although numbers can often be numbing for readers, this editorial demonstrates that even narratives laden with statistics can be compelling. Making the piece even more powerful is the inclusion of a person who is suffering the consequences of decades of bad decisions by others. Second place Detroit Free Press Editorial Board Avoiding a crisis beat fixing one Third place Detroit Free Press Editorial Board It's time for Snyder to appoint emergency manager for Detroit Headline Writing First place Patty Schroth Detroit Free Press Judges’ comments: When judging headlines, I like to look for a few particular items. It's best to see a diversity of entries. This demonstrates that the headline writer puts effort into his or her work whether assigned to read a news or feature item. The headline must, first and foremost, drive the reader to the story and summarize the content. Creativity and good use of the spec are also important, and the headline should not rob the lede. Puns for the sake of puns do not a winning headline make. Creativity and craft rule the day here. I was very impressed with the diversity of Patty Schroth's headline portfolio entered here. The C-section headline is amazing. In a tight spec, it forces you to read the story without robbing the lede. Just because it's written as a police story doesn't mean it needs a boring headline. Ouch- works well as a hammer and conveys the tone of the column. Both the snow tires head and its jump hed are conversational - I love alliteration. The "x marks" headline appears to involve partnership with a designer -- very valuable in headline-writing. It makes you want to read by not telling the whole story, and it draws on comments from the main source. Finally, Escapee summarizes the feeling around town. Second place Dory Knight-Ingram Detroit Free Press Third place Andreas Supanich The Detroit News Judges’ comments: The Venezuelan toilet paper shortage story could've been played for laughs. Instead, the headline treatment refers to an "indignity" in the deck -- going against the grain and helping to end the "othering" of foreign countries. "Arrests flip script in dramatic diamond heist" - This headline is nuanced, pushes you to read, but doesn't rob the lede. Photography, art and graphics News Photography First place Eric Seals Detroit Free Press Graveyard vigil Judges’ comments: This is a nice example of a photo that stands on its own, regardless of the context in the caption. I didn't have to read the cutline to have a good idea of what was going on here. That, coupled with the composition and the weather reflecting the mood of the subject, makes this a photo that effectively tells a story by itself. Second place Andre J. Jackson Detroit Free Press Bing goodbye Third place Ryan Garza Detroit Free Press Football fire Feature Photography First place Daniel Mears The Detroit News Haunted car wash Judges’ comments: Thoughtful storytelling. In the window's reflection, we see only the frightening face that the little girl sees. But the full frame reveals it's just a man dressed in jeans wearing a scary mask. Horror unmasked. Nice job. Second place John T. Greilick The Detroit News Storytime for therapy dogs Third place Kimberly P. Mitchell Detroit Free Press Rock the Vote marching band Honorable Mention Elizabeth Conley The Detroit News July Fourth twins Sports Photography First place John T. Greilick The Detroit News No title for Michigan Judges’ comments: The perfect moment. This photo did what a great shot should do; it told a compelling story, full of emotion, in a visually interesting frame. Well composed. Second place David Guralnick The Detroit News Octopus toss Third place Julian Gonzalez Detroit Free Press U-M vs. Indiana Honorable Mention Daniel Mears The Detroit News Getting snowed in Philly Publication design Page One Design First place Tim Good, Eric Millikin Detroit Free Press How Detroit Went Broke Judges’ comments: Very strong Sunday presentation. The headline, fever line and timeline work great together. It's an attention-grabbing, well designed centerpiece that gives the reader a lot of information above the fold, without selling itself out. If I saw this on the rack, I'd have to buy it and read the full story. Second place Jean Johnson The Detroit News Detroit's Reckoning Third place Steve Anderson Detroit Free Press Detroit Files for Bankruptcy Judges’ comments: I like that the Freep went above the nameplate with the headline -- it warranted that treatment. The CP head is strong, and it's not cluttered with extraneous stories or too many elements. The layout choices are spot on. Honorable Mention Carolyn Watson The Detroit News Six Decades Feature Page Design First place Robert Nixon Metro Times The Fright Stuff Judges’ comments: There's a lot going on here, but it all works well together. The headline font choice, the gold flourishes, the tintype effect on the photo -- they evoke a certain time and place, one that most of us would agree is a little eerie. As far as all elements working together to create a complete design -- this one exceeds its competition. Second place James Hollar The Detroit News Luxurious Versatility Judges’ comments: Very clean. The screen was ambitious -- but it's light enough and the texture is large enough that it doesn't distract from the content. The vehicle is on display and the headlines and other elements are just bold enough to compete for the reader's attention without becoming overpowering. Third place James Hollar The Detroit News Be Unique Inside News Page Design First place Carolyn Watson The Detroit News Detroit: Land of Opportunities Judges’ comments: Very nice overall page design. I like the art choices all-around -- the Joe Louis sculpture showing a fighting spirit, the central photo showing people out enjoying life in Detroit, and the skyline conveying a powerful city still very much alive. Sports Page Design First place Amelia Eramya The Detroit News The Bo Speech Judges’ comments: A great photo, a really nice quote treatment, a clean and simple headline and a nice type treatment on the body. The whole CP just works, and it works really well. Some of the entries in this category struggled with secondary and tertiary stories on the page competing for attention. The hierarchy here is just right. I know what's most important and what's grabbing my attention, but it's not drowning out the other stories on the page. Really, really nice work. Second place Ryan Ford Detroit Free Press Max Scherzer Cy Young Judges’ comments: Really nice page. It's reminiscent of the back of a baseball card, and I love that it's full of information (past Tigers winners, vote getters, a pull quote, jersey number, season stats) but it's never busy or overwhelming. It's structured really well and everything's compartmentalized so that the reader can take in each piece of information one at a time, without the others interfering. Third place Rob L'Heureux, Kim Storeygard, Amelia Eramya The Detroit News Inside the World of Magatron Judges’ comments: Great illo. Cover Design First place Robert Nixon, John Dunivant Metro Times Halloween Second place Robert Nixon Metro Times Lust Third place Jose Zamudio, Lauren Jeziorski, Kelly Buren Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Metro Parent - February 2013 Magazine Spread Design First place Jose Zamudio, Lauren Jeziorski Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Busy Mom Beauty Tips Judges’ comments: Very clean. Nice use of color. The handwriting is a very nice touch and appropriate to the subject matter. Second place Jose Zamudio, Meredith Miotke Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Raising a Biz Kid Judges’ comments: The illustrations here are beautiful. Print, Class B Newspapers of less than 100,000 circulation and their websites Writing and reporting Spot or Breaking News Reporting First place Chad Halcom, Bill Shea, Dustin Walsh, Kirk Pinho Crain's Detroit Business A velvet glove Judges’ comments: Easy for the reader to locate info related to areas of interest as well as providing an overall view. Second place Paul Kampe The Oakland Press OU basketball players held by police after sex assault allegations Third place Dave Phillips The Oakland Press Layne found guilty of murdering grandson General News Reporting First place Tom Henderson Crain's Detroit Business Chemical reaction Judges’ comments: Good story telling. Well organized. Nice job. Second place Jay Greene Crain's Detroit Business Unmaking of Beaumont-Henry Ford merger Third place John Turk, Carol Hopkins The Oakland Press Sylvan Lake deaths: Residents push for increase in marine patrols Feature Story First place Don Gardner Macomb Daily Invasive species killing migrating birds Judges’ comments: Great job spotting an important story that could have easily gone unnoticed. I thought the reporting done here was strong, and the piece was well thought out. Second place Nathan Skid Crain's Detroit Business Creative license Judges’ comments: Good story. Third place Sherri Welch Crain's Detroit Business Post-Boston crowd security Judges’ comments: This was a nice way to bring a national topic home. Best Personality Profile First place Chris Gautz Crain's Detroit Business Granholm's next act Judges’ comments: Reporter Chris Gautz delivers a well-written review of former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm's transition from moderate governor to outspoken liberal commentator. Second place Gina Joseph Macomb Daily Macomb Pathologist Spitz offers observation from JFK assassination Third place Gina Joseph Macomb Daily Father Solanus: A Christmas miracle Investigative Reporting First place Dustin Walsh Crain's Detroit Business Revstone Judges’ comments: Crain's Detroit Business reporter Dustin Walsh effectively pulled back the curtain and broke down the complex allegations leveled at the founder of a major company in the midst of government investigations and a highprofile bankruptcy case. Second place Gina Joseph Macomb Daily Proposed nuclear waste dump Best Explanatory Story First place Chad Halcom Crain's Detroit Business Kilpatrick analysis Judges’ comments: Countless reporters covered the federal trial of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick but Crain's Detroit Business reporter Chad Halcom took a refreshing and insightful approach that gave readers a clear picture of the business community's role in the ex-city executive's demise Second place Pat Caputo The Oakland Press There are no gimmies Best Localization of a National Story First place Chad Halcom, Amy Haimerl, Kirk Pinho Crain's Detroit Business Detroit bankruptcy General Column Writing First place Chad Selweski Macomb Daily Sports Columnist First place Pat Caputo The Oakland Press Fracassa, Robinson, Kampe Judges’ comments: Very nice job on the coach profiles and the "42" review. The information was concise and painted a clear picture of these coaches and how they came to be where they are today. Also enjoyed the "storyteller" aspect of these columns. Great reads. Second place Matthew Mowery The Oakland Press Avilas, Cabrera, Scherzer Judges’ comments: Nice coverage on a subject that's starting to get talked about a bit more but is still considered taboo -injured players and how the team is so often seen as more important than the players' health, and the frustration that no one is really looking out for their best interests. I was frustrated for these guys by the time I was done reading about them. Also, nice story on the humble baseball player who insists on sharing credit with his teammates. You have a nice conversational tone to your writing. Sports Reporting First place Bill Shea Crain's Detroit Business Who's on deck? Judges’ comments: Very comprehensive story (and great hedline, too -- "Who's on Deck?"). Appreciate the info box on estate tax laws and the mugshots so readers can put the names to faces. Very interesting sidebar on how team transitions aren't always smooth for estates. Very well researched and tight writing. Great job getting the information on owners and nice use of examples on other teams. Second place Bill Shea, Dustin Walsh Crain's Detroit Business Detroit soccer no free kick Judges’ comments: A lot of good information and background here. Appreciate the sidebar/info box. You took a topic that could get confusing very easily and you spelled it all out nicely. Good job. Third place Paul Kampe The Oakland Press Oakland University is home sweet home for veteran coach Judges’ comments: Nice profile of Oakland University veteran basketball coach Greg Kampe. Good examples of his personality -- not allowing his players to wear shirts with another school's name on it, his reluctance to leave the school after coaching there for so many years. Honorable Mention Paula Pasche The Oakland Press Mega-Win Stafford tricks, Johnson treats as Lions stun Cowboys Judges’ comments: I didn't watch this game on TV, but I felt like I was there watching it as I read your story -- I could definitely feel the tension mounting. Nice job. Headline Writing First place Bob Allen Crain's Detroit Business Judges’ comments: I enjoyed this collection of entries. The headlines exhibited a fun play on words (Gilt trip, Padded sells) while also fulfilling their mission: to draw the reader into the respective stories. Good job and well thought out. Second place Gary Piatek Crain's Detroit Business Photography, art and graphics News Photography First place David Dalton Macomb Daily Reserve officer's wife calls husband a ‘hero’ Judges’ comments: This was a nice example of a photo that tells a story on its own. All the context one needs to know what's going on is provided in the picture. Feature Photography First place Vaughn Gurganian The Oakland Press Controlled burn Judges’ comments: The use of scale in this photo is very effective, showing just how big this fire actually was. Second place Nathan Skid Crain's Detroit Business Comerica Park Sports Photography First place David Dalton Macomb Daily Regina wins home opener against Cousino Judges’ comments: Intensity is the name of this game. Who says girls don't play tough? This photo shows the pure adrenaline that takes over as the players battle for the loose ball. Publication design Page One Design First place Jeff Johnston Crain's Detroit Business Jan. 21, 2013 : Feature Page Design First place Kevin Martin Macomb Daily Oscar preview Judges’ comments: This page has good structure. Second place Pierrette Dagg, Nathan Skid Crain's Detroit Business Crain's 40 Under 40 Third place Susan Dzbanski The Oakland Press Yates Cider Mill Inside News Page Design First place Bob Allen Crain's Detroit Business Degree of Difficulty Judges’ comments: Some empty spaces in a photo where there is no type is good because it gives the reader visual relief and allows the photo to be a photo. Sports Page Design First place Matthew Mowery The Oakland Press Unlocked Judges’ comments: Print, Class C: Writing and reporting Spot or Breaking News Reporting First place Steve Toloken Plastics News Hostage had to buy freedom Judges’ comments: The writer offers good details and a clear explanation regarding the struggles of a businessman who was held hostage for 5 days in China by employees who were upset with his company. Second place Brad Lindberg Grosse Pointe News K-9 Raleigh was a friend of the community Third place Brad Lindberg Grosse Pointe News Motorcycle, car crash injures 1 Honorable Mention Terry Oparka C & G Newspapers Cipriano pleads - jury selection continues General News Reporting First place Trevor W. Coleman Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Driving Dirty Judges’ comments: This entry narrowly beat out the feature on Veterans Court because I felt it was important to a wider audience. The author does a great job of taking a serious issue in Detroit and explaining how it came about and why it matters to the reader. The reporter also does a great job of drawing in the reader with a narrative lede. An excellent enterprise news story. Second place Tom Murray Hour Detroit Court of Compassion Third place Ronelle Grier Detroit Jewish News Haunting Deaths Feature Story First place Monica Mercer Hour Detroit Philanthropy 2.0 Judges’ comments: Mercer's approach to the subject of philanthropy is excellent. The article touches upon generational differences and the changing economic climate of the region, all while highlighting notable people within the community. The writing is crisp, clear and engaging. Excellent work. Second place Elizabeth Atkins Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Is Atlanta The New Detroit? Judges’ comments: A good trend piece that successfully uses data, history and anecdotes from people who've made the move from Detroit to Atlanta. Third place Richard Bak Hour Detroit Twist of Fate Honorable Mention Barbara Lewis Detroit Jewish News Bring On The Dough Judges’ comments: This piece is a great reminder that quality feature writing doesn't always tackle difficult subjects and/or provide an in-depth analysis. Lewis' take on a family tradition in the kitchen is short and sweet. It's descriptive and personal. It leaves you feeling warm, which good feature writing often does. Best Personality Profile First place K. Michelle Moran C&G Newspapers Sheer tenacity: Park man celebrates his 50th anniversary Judges’ comments: A personality profile with personality. This full-bodied story includes not only the subject, but his wife, his family, his customers, those in his neighborhood -- as it should. This story is three-dimensional, and was a clear winner in the category. Second place Sherri Williams BLAC Detroit Wayne State University's new warrior Judges’ comments: Well written. Third place Jessica Strachan C & G Newspapers Remembering Viola Liuzzo Investigative Reporting First place P.D. Lesko The Ann Arbor Independent City employees earning 100K+ Judges’ comments: This project offers timely, detailed reporting about the serious problems with pension funding -brought about by years of poor decisions or neglect -- that benefit a limited number of employees at a great cost to taxpayers and other government services Second place Arthur M. Horwitz Detroit Jewish News Who Killed Burton Gordin? Third place Jim Bloch Voice News Water monitoring Best Consumer/Watchdog First place Ilene Wolff DBusiness Charge Master Judges’ comments: Excellent, in-depth examination of an issue of importance to everyone. Second place Katelyn Larese Voice News Landfill Third place Jeri Packer Voice News Snookers Honorable Mention K. Michelle Moran C&G Newspapers Noncompliant sex offender sought Best Explanatory Story First place Ruthan Brodsky Detroit Jewish News Helping Hands Judges’ comments: This piece works on several levels. It's an engaging look at an emerging field of healthcare, which could be of use to the general public. It also provides useful tips and a balanced breakdown of the industry's shortcomings to anybody who is considering hiring one of these professionals. Brodsky's ability to balance both of these missions is admirable. Well done Second place Mark Kurlyandchik Hour Detroit Ebb & Flow Judges’ comments: Writing is as clear and naturally flowing as its subject matter. The author frames the subject of bottled and tap water in approachable language and addresses all the important factors one must take when deciding what to drink. All around a solid piece. Third place Ronelle Grier Detroit Jewish News Fighting Elder Fraud Honorable Mention Julie Halpert The Ann Why a Convention Center Can't Pass No Best Localization of a National Story First place Richard Bak Hour Detroit The Darkest Friday: JFK Assassination Judges’ comments: This version of a story done by many news outlets across the world is expertly researched and sourced. Using a variety of sources from across Detroit to illustrate JFK's murder and the following events makes for compelling storytelling. Very well done. Second place Robert Guttersohn C & G News U.S. Navy cuts funding to regional sea cadet program Third place Monica Mercer Hour Detroit Word of Mouth Open Government Reporting First place Sarah Wojcik C&G Newspapers Nightingale lawsuit settled for $745,000 Judges’ comments: The reporter used an open records request to find information about a odd legal settlement between a town's Board of Trustees and one of its members. General Column Writing First place Traci R. Gentilozzi Michigan Lawyers Weekly Judges’ comments: Nice blend of research, analysis and opinion. Second place Gary Gosselin Michigan Lawyers Weekly Third place Robert Sklar Detroit Jewish News Sports Columnist First place Brian Marshall Voice News Judges’ comments: I liked the super fans piece. Sports Reporting First place Lynn Henning Hour Detroit Anatomy of a Manager: Jim Leyland Judges’ comments: This was a nice piece with an exceptional lead graphic. Editorial Writing First place Robert Sklar Detroit Jewish News Time To End Protest Outside Synagogue Judges’ comments: A calm, well-reasoned commentary on why the protests outside a synagogue should end after so many years. The editorial makes a convincing case that the continued protest is pointless while at the same time disrupting the lives of countless number of people who have no control over developments thousands of miles away. Second place Paul Fletcher Michigan Lawyers Weekly Protect reporters, and protect everyone Third place Bryan Gottlieb Metro Times The Throwdown in Motown Honorable Mention Robert Sklar Detroit Jewish News Battle Over Prayer At The Wall Not Over Headline Writing First place David Sachs Detroit Jewish News Judges’ comments: All of these headlines made me smile. Oh, and they made me want to read the story, which is the essence of what a good headline must do. None are obvious puns, and the decks flow nicely from the hammer headlines and provide additional information to the reader. Second place Bryan Gottlieb Metro Times Judges’ comments: Thank you for being clear about the SEO vs print headlines you wanted me to judge! When the rubber leaves the road is enough of a twist on a familiar phrase to make you want to read on. Nanny State is going to get people to read it - and it works with the design as well. Photography, art and graphics News Photography First place Robert Guttersohn C & G Newspapers Police seek answers after roommate murder-suicide Feature Photography First place Roy Ritchie Hour Detroit Best of Detroit Judges’ comments: So much thought must have gone into planning this photo. It is just technically perfect. Remarkable preparation led to an incredibly interesting story. The judges loved it! Second place C.J. Carnacchio The Oxford Leader Lion Lovin Judges’ comments: The entries in this category made the task a selecting a winner extremely difficult. One judge scored this photo as best. The shock of what appears to be a lion in the little boy's face gives way to smiles when the cutline reveals it's only a dog dressed as a lion. What a story! The photography captured the moment perfectly. Third place Roy Ritchie Hour Detroit The Hour of Enchantment: Spring Fashion Honorable Mention Jenny Risher Hour Detroit Call to Arms: Fall Fashion Publication design Page One Design First place Judi Orozco Michigan Lawyers Weekly Oct. 7, 2013 Judges’ comments: A good, balanced page. The right number of stories. Small touches like the cartoon breaking out its boundaries and the white space surrounding the centerpiece typography help make this page just a little bit cleaner. Second place Judi Orozco Michigan Lawyers Weekly July 22, 2013 Cover Design First place Jose Zamudio Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit BLAC - June 2013 Judges’ comments: Really nice illustration. Love the concept. Clean design, nice paring of colors, the headline and illo work perfectly together. The refers to other stories aren't cluttered or interfering with the cover illustration, but they're prominent enough that they're not overlooked. Great work. Second place Cassidy Zobl Hour Detroit April 2013 Judges’ comments: I love that this magazine takes on a different look every month (or at least did in the contest entries), but the brand is still very evident -- I know exactly which magazine I'm looking at. I imagine the concept here was a "Farmer's Almanac" motif, and it's done really well. It fits what the stories are about, and the treatment on the two main headlines is very nice. Third place Cassidy Zobl Hour Detroit October 2013 Magazine Spread Design First place Cassidy Zobl Hour Detroit Motor City Export: Detroit-Style Pizza Judges’ comments: Fantastic layout. Great typography. The infographic and timeline make a feature story more informative and give the reader more opportunities to break away from the body copy. It hits all the right design notes that make ANY story a "must-read." Second place Cassidy Zobl Hour Detroit Best Dressed: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Judges’ comments: Great relationship between photography and design. The color choices work wonderfully together, and the lines used in the design echo the textures and patterns in the clothing and backgrounds, without getting too organic and blending in. Much like the clothing featured in the photos, there are a lot of elements at play here, but the design remains clean and everything is "tailored" to fit. Third place Jose Zamudio Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Looking For A Leader Judges’ comments: Clean, simple and understated, but still eye catching. The use of historical imagery while addressing the city's future play very well together, and I love the "your face here" idea. The design as a whole uses very little to say quite a lot. Honorable Mention Jose Zamudio, Lauren Jeziorski Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Does Your Hair Control Your Job? Judges’ comments: Very clean, grid-based layout that shifts the scale of its elements to keep things interesting. The result is a design that does exactly what it's supposed to do. Open Categories: A, B, C, compete as a single class Automotive Reporting First place Alisa Priddle Detroit Free Press Second place Reuters News Team Decline and fall of Fisker Automotive Third place Deepa Seetharaman, Bernie Woodall, Nadia Damouni Reuters Ford prepares for post-Mulally era Car Review First place Mark Phelan Detroit Free Press Judges’ comments: Colorful, catchy headlines, and well-designed layout. Criticism First place Gary Graff The Oakland Press Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Eminem Judges’ comments: Homecoming king grabbed attention with Seger's photo. Eminem's photograph was also gripping and the review was well-written. Kid Rock was well-written. Editorial Cartoon First place Mike Thompson Detroit Free Press Judges’ comments: Clever, engaging, nice caricatures. Informational Graphics First place Eric Millikin, Martha Thierry, Moses Harris, Brian Todd Detroit Free Press How Detroit Went Broke Judges’ comments: Styles between all the graphics is consistent. Information is clear and easy to follow. Very nice work! Second place Kevin Martin Macomb Daily Capitol Nest Egg Judges’ comments: Class D: In-House/Custom Publications Feature Story First place Sue Levytsky, Timothy Paul Lentz, David DiChiera Kresge Foundation David DiChiera monograph: Excerpts Judges’ comments: A good package on an interesting subject. Second place Nancy Rommelman, Emily White Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine Driven Judges’ comments: Good writing. Nice lede. Third place Amy Kuras, Julia Elliott Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Contributing To Your Child's School Your Way Judges’ comments: Cover Design First place Julie Pincus Kresge Foundation David DiChiera monograph Second place Jose Zamudio, Kelly Buren, Lauren Jeziorski Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Education Detroit Vol. 1 Feature Design First place Julie Pincus Kresge Foundation David DiChiera monograph:"The Impresario" Photo First place Lon Horwedel Kresge Foundation ARISE! Use of Photos/Graphics First place Jose Zamudio, Kelly Buren, Lauren Jeziorski Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Health Care Reform + You Second place Jose Zamudio, Kelly Buren, Lauren Jeziorski Metro Parent/BLAC Detroit Education Detroit Vol. 1 Online: Spot or Breaking News Reporting First place Steve Toloken Plastics News Feng Ping workers arrested Second place Carol Hopkins The Oakland Press Second West Bloomfield sibling dies following tragic boating accident Third place Bill Shea Crain's Detroit Business Campbell-Ewald Honorable Mention Monica Drake The Oakland Press Girl sues mom's ex-boyfriend for not giving back her dog General News Reporting First place Nancy Derringer The Center for Michigan / Bridge Auto Insurance Rates Drive Detroit Voters Into Hiding Judges’ comments: Engaging writing and rich reporting on an issue of significant public interest. A difficult subject to tackle but the reader grasps the dimension of the problem, thanks to lots of specific examples and informative interviews with the city clerk and others. Well-balanced. Second place Ron French The Center for Michigan / Bridge Michigan's Redshirt Kindergartners Judges’ comments: A very complex, important issue is explained clearly, with multiple perspectives. The disparities in 'redshirting' by district are striking, and the coverage gives readers a good understanding why. The searchable database is excellent. Third place Charles Crumm The Oakland Press Ex-lawmakers received healthy retirement benefits while Detroit city workers hope to save Judges’ comments: Honorable Mention Donna Marie Iadipaolo Ann Arbor Journal Dioxane plume poses threat to city's water Judges’ comments: Highlights an important environmental issue. Honorable Mention Anne Schieber Michigan Capitol Confidential House inspection series Judges’ comments: Well-told in both print and video. Feature Reporting First place Eric Seals, Ann Zaniewski Detroit Free Press Shipwreck hunter finds Civil War-era ship in Lake Huron Judges’ comments: What a great feature story should be: A deep dive with a bright light into a subject that reveals itself, like a shipwreck itself, to have many, many elements worth exploring. When laid bare like this, it offers insight into the human condition: Why do we search? Because we can. The video is fantastic and the lively writing jumps off the page. A phenomenal multimedia package. Second place David Ashenfelter The Center for Michigan / Bridge Michigan's Great Bookworm Judges’ comments: Delightful profile. Engaging. Entertaining. Exceptionally well-written and well-paced. Third place Tom Gantert Michigan Capitol Confidential Union series Judges’ comments: Strong, persistent reporting. Great series of stories on an issue that the reporter makes clear deserves the spotlight. Tough,dogged work. Honorable Mention Nancy Derringer The Center for Michigan / Bridge Black Thursday Judges’ comments: Great look at a fascinating subject: Disagreements with friends and family. Good research. Best Localization of National Story First place Ryan Felton The Oakland Press Kevorkian shifted public views on assisted suicide Judges’ comments: A thorough look at a tricky subject. Second place Charles Crumm The Oakland Press Gay Marriage Still Banned in Michigan Investigative Reporting First place Ron French The Center for Michigan / Bridge Building A Better Teacher Judges’ comments: I really liked the stories and felt the writer drew me into the problem and the humans working through it. Second place Ted Roelofs, Pat Shellenbarger The Center for Michigan / Bridge Michigan's Broken Legacy Judges’ comments: Good information and a very timely topic. Third place Dave Phillips The Oakland Press Doctor charged with $35M in Medicare fraud Best Consumer/Watchdog Reporting First place Steve Neavling Motor City Muckraker Fire crisis in Detroit Judges’ comments: Steve Neavling's enterprise reports are relatively short as watchdog reporting goes but they pack a lot of punch. He goes after a fire department that appears to need a dedicated watchdog, given the serious shortcomings Neavling uncovers. He's to be commended for his dogged reporting, and let's hope it forces some meaningful change. Second place Jarrett Skorup Michigan Capitol Confidential Corporate welfare, asset forfeiture, government waste Judges’ comments: Third place Jack Spencer Michigan Capitol Confidential Lawmakers move to define ‘journalist’ Honorable Mention Ryan Felton The Oakland Press Trash hauler pushes for Rochester Hills contract Blogging First place Amy Haimerl Crain's Detroit Business Judges’ comments: Layout is aesthetically appealing. The Vimeo video box (and other, larger, better quality pictures) and the running Twitter posts give a multimedia facet to it. Trending stories and comments are a nice touch but not intrusive. Search box is obvious. The text is well-written and compelling. Amy's blogs offer a professional approach with an understanding of the critical role that social media feedback plays in the digital world. Second place Paula Pasche The Oakland Press Third place Karen Dybis Detroit Unspun Digital Media Presentation First place Pierrette Dagg, Norman Witte III, Amy Haimerl Crain's Detroit Business Detroit 2.0 Judges’ comments: This Crain's Detroit Business project is an excellent example of using multimedia tools to really educate readers about a complex subject that's central to their city's future. This series should be a model for other news outlets. Second place Pierrette Dagg, Nathan Skid, Norman Witte III Crain's Detroit Business 20 in their 20s Third place Eric Millikin Detroit Free Press Halloween candy monster portraits Honorable Mention Pierrette Dagg, Nathan Skid, Norman Witte III Crain's Detroit Business Music